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Author
Topic: Who will pay in California (Read 7404 times)

As my face has been wasting away, I have been dodging cameras for a few years. That is why I never have an avatar with my own photo.

Last month, I was asked to be on TV for a News channel special on 25 years of AIDS. I know about makeup, camera angles and lighting, it was the same for the other two local guys Harold and Greg. They looked like themselves while I looked like death warmed over. I borrowed a tape of the show from an employee at the clinic.

Since seeing myself or at least the man wearing my shirt and using my words and voice, I just can not go out in public. I spoke to a friend who is a medical biller at Kaiser Permanente, he has had Sculptura but he is a Kaiser member as well as an employee. Tim said Medicare and or Medi-Cal (the California version of Medicaid) will pay for the procedure if the prescription is written properly. My doctor said last year the vials cost about $3000.00 each and the procedure will require 4 vials, he also said he could do the procedure.

I live on disability and $12000.00 is much more than I make each year. Has anyone had this done and paid for by either Medi-Medi? Have the best dayMichael

First of all, let me say that I think the price your doctor is quoting is a bit high. I've heard of getting Sculptra for substantially less. So shop around. Second, Sculptra has a patient assistance program, and it sounds like you would qualify. I know that anyone making less than $40,000 per year is eligible, so you should also check into that. If that fails, I think that there are buyers clubs that get Sculptra from Canada at a much lower price. Many doctors will inject the material if you supply it.

Now, to answer your actual question, there are a number of laws on the books in California that require insurers to pay for procedures designed to restore a person's normal appearance where the appearance has been lost because of accident or disease. Thus, in California, insurers are legally required to pay for these procedures where medically indicated. There is a statute that makes these requirements applicable to Medi-Cal. Despite the statutes, I understand that many insurers refuse to pay for Sculptra treatment. The best course of action is to prepare a strong medical case in advance. Get letters from your doctor that document your condition and, most important, the effect it has on you. If you have a psychotherapist, get him/her to write a letter testifying to the adverse psychological effects the lipo is having. Request a precertification from Medi-Cal. If they refuse, then appeal.

If you would like references to the laws that I am talking about, just let me know and I can provide them. Don't give up on this. I think that the law is on your side.

I have started by sending an email to the staff nurse at the clinic describing how I feel about myself after the TV program, isolation and my earlier discussion with my provider last year. That will get the documentation started from my provider.

I can contact the Clinical Case Manager and begin getting to the Psychotherapist on Monday morning. Next, I would like to have the links to the laws as you discussed. Thank youMichael

The laws at issue are Welfare and Institutions Code § 14132.62, Insurance Code § 10123.88, and Health and Safety Code § 1367.63. The first provision is the one, I believe, that applies to Medi-Cal, and I'll paste a copy of the text here, since it's not too long.

The text of Welfare and Institutions Code § 14132.62 reads as follows:

14132.62. (a) Reconstructive surgery shall be covered under thischapter, as defined in subdivision (c), when necessary to achieve thepurposes specified in paragraphs (1) or (2) of subdivision (c).Nothing in this section shall be construed to require coverage forcosmetic surgery, as defined in subdivision (d). (b) No individual, other than a licensed physician competent toevaluate the specific clinical issues involved in the care requested,may deny initial requests for authorization of coverage fortreatment pursuant to this section. For a treatment authorizationrequest submitted by a podiatrist or an oral and maxillofacialsurgeon, the request may be reviewed by a similarly licensedindividual competent to evaluate the specific clinical issuesinvolved in the care requested. (c) "Reconstructive surgery" means surgery performed on abnormalstructures of the body caused by congenital defects, developmentalabnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease to do either ofthe following: (1) To improve function. (2) To create a normal appearance, to the extent possible. (d) "Cosmetic surgery" means surgery that is performed to alter orreshape normal structures of the body in order to improveappearance. (e) In connection with the interpretation of the definition ofreconstructive surgery, a proposed surgical procedure may be subjectto prior authorization and utilization review that may include, butneed not be limited to, denial under any of the followingcircumstances: (1) There is another more appropriate surgical procedure that willbe approved for the enrollee. (2) The procedure or procedures offer only a minimal improvementin the appearance of the enrollee, as defined in regulations adoptedby the department. (3) Denial of payment for procedures performed without priorauthorization. (f) This section shall become operative July 1, 1999.

Basically the section states that you can have reconstructive surgery to create a normal appearance, and it seems to me that Sculptra treatment should qualify. Note subdivision (e) and its requirement of prior authorization.

I got a response back from our Staff Nurse this afternoon. I knew I would because we are also good friends. He did check with my Doctor and found there was no funding available. This is not surprising because it is a small non-profit clinic, operated by the County in Santa Rosa.

I did get a referral to a Dr. Conant in San Francisco, do you know of him? I was told he does Sculptura at a greatly reduced price. My thinking is this may be their unofficial way of saying, go to him and he will push the paperwork through Medi-Cal.

I was talking to another friend on one of the committees I serve on today. He is trying to get Lyposuction on his chin and his belly because of the effects the meds have had on his appearance over the years. I started sharing information with him today after our talk in the hallway. Have the best dayMichael

I'm in really good hands here, I already know I can qualify and will start the paperwork next week. I should burn a copy of the TV show and send that with my application letter. Thank you ever so muchMichael

Glad to hear the good news. I understand that Dermik will make Sculptra available at greatly reduced cost. Not sure about the doctor's fee for the actual injections. Just make sure that Medi-Cal pays for whatever the doctor charges.

I was awake most of the night after reading your post about Dr. Conant being in Randy Shilts book. There was a most interesting woman in my life named Mrs. Conant, she was the librarian in our high school and since I was such the book worm, she was always pointing out reading material that I would enjoy. She taught me about finding reference material, the Dewey Decimal system. As I recall, she introduced me to J.D. Sallinger's "Catcher in the Rye."

Mrs. Conant drove a new Dodge Charger (a muscle car) and her son, who was studying to become a doctor, put mag wheels on that car. Sometimes the world gets really small and I wonder if Dr. Marcus Conant is the son of Mrs. Emma Conant. Anyway, I have this compulsion to contact Dr. Conant. Have the best dayMichael

I've had a few Sculptra treatments so far with great success and have managed to get some insurance coverage but am now stalled out because the pharmacy will only order 3 treatments at a time. So far, I've ordered treatments (2 vials per) at $1600 a pop but can't swing three and don't have anyone else locally who is interested.

What are the buyer's clubs you mentioned?

Logged

Juiceit

Dear Bobino: Please email me at : JeromeJohnson@surfglobal.netWho Dermik?--Sorry for this public post but there is no way to contact you within this site? I am new so I guess I am asking for two bits of information? Sorry!Sincerely yours,Jerome(Juiceit)